of the Council of Maryland. 185

waiting on you as soon as the business of the Post will permit and
am in no doubt of giving full satisfaction for my past conduct if I
can obtain an enquiry

November
15

[Ben Stoddert, By order, War Office to Gov. Lee]

Sir It is recommended in the resolution of Congress of the 25^th
of Feb^ry last, " That the several States cause monthly returns to be
made to the board of war, of all such commodities as shall be pro-
cured for the use of the United States, specifying the quantities
issued (the board suppose the quantities delivered by the State Com-
missioners) in each preceeding month "
For want of such returns, the board are extremely embarrassed
in forming a Judgement of the prospects the Army have of being
supplied, nor will it ever be in their power, if not furnished with
them, to check the accounts of the issuing Commissaries, by know-
ing the quantities rec^d from the States. It is also extremely difficult
to direct the march of Troops without information of the Supplies
obtained, & places of deposit.
They therefore take the liberty to request that your Excellency
will be pleased to order the person in your State whose business it is,
to make them, to be punctual in transmitting the returns agreeable
to the resolution above recited.

November
15
Red Book

No. 7
Letter
No. 187

[Edw'd Giles, Petersburgh to Gov. Lee]

Sir By Colonel Smith's Directions, I agreable to your Excel-
lency's request, I take the Liberty of transcribing for your Perusal
a History of our march from Annapolis to this Place, which tho
marked with no Interesting Events may serve to account for the
length of Time employed in gaining such little ground. At Alexan-
dria we were detained three Days in paying off the Men & allowing
them an opportunity of laying out their money, which farther to
the South would be of no Service. At Colchester which is but one
short Day's march from Alex: : we were delayed near two Days at
the Ferry, the wind blowing in such a manner, as to render a Passage
impracticable at Fredericksburgh new Difficulties arose. From some
of our Horses being jaded & being under the Necessity of carrying
four Day's Provision, we could not proceed without fresh one's.
So clogged are the Wheels of the Quarter Master's Department, that
with all our Industry, we consumed three Days on this Business &
were at last obliged to march without a full Supply. The Provision
too was not provided till the last moment. From Freder^r to Rich-
mond we proceeded without any Obstruction, reaching it on the
fourth Day. Here the Commissary could not furnish us with Provi-
sion to carry us two Day's March, unless we halted a Day, till he
went in the Country to purchase it. Necessity compelled us to do
it & the next Day was spent in crossing the Ferry, which from its

November
15
Brown Book

No. 5
Letter
No.81